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1881 Liberty Head Half Eagle Obverse     1881 Liberty Head Half Eagle Reverse
 


1881 FIVE DOLLARS
OR HALF EAGLE

PCGS Nos: 8354, 8476, 8355, 88476

Mintage:

Circulation strikes: 5,708,760
Proofs: 42

Designer: Christian Gobrecht

Diameter: ±21.65 millimeters

Metal content:
Gold - 90%
Other - 10%

Weight: 129 grains (8.24 grams)

Edge: Reeded

Mintmark: None (for Philadelphia, PA) below the eagle on the reverse

Images courtesy of Heritage Numismatic Auctions

Significant examples:
Proof (illustrated above).  Ex - Trompeter collection.

Recent appearances:
PCGS Proof-65.  Ex - Bowers and Merena Galleries, "The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, Part IV Sale", November 20-21, 2000, Lot 540, illustrated, sold for $36,800.00  From Paramount's sale of September 1971, Lot 1538

NGC MS-65.  Ex - Bowers & Merena Galleries' "The Cabinet of Lucien M. LaRiviere, Part II", March 15-17, 2001, Lot 151, unsold

PCGS MS-64.  Ex - Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s "Philadelphia 2000 Signature Sale", August 6-7, 2000, Lot 7266, not illustrated, not sold

PCGS MS-64.  Ex - Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s "Philadelphia 2000 Signature Sale", August 6-7, 2000, Lot 7267, not illustrated, sold for $690.00

NGC MS-64.  Ex- Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s "October 2000 Long Beach Sale" October 5-7, 2000, Lot 7610, not illustrated, sold for $621.00

PCGS MS-64.  Ex- Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s "October 2000 Long Beach Sale" October 5-7, 2000, Lot 7611, not illustrated, sold for $632.50

NGC MS-64.  Ex - Bowers and Merena Galleries' Robert W. Schwan Collection Sale, October 26-27, 2000, Lot 2357, unsold

PCGS MS-64.  Ex - Bowers & Merena Galleries' "The Lake Geneva Sale", June 28-29, 2001, Lot 1274, not illustrated, sold for $782.00

NGC MS-64.  Ex - Bowers & Merena Galleries' "The Lake Geneva Sale", June 28-29, 2001, Lot 1275, not illustrated, sold for $747.50

NGC MS-63.  Ex - Bowers and Merena Galleries' Robert W. Schwan Collection Sale, October 26-27, 2000, Lot 2358, unsold

PCGS MS-63.  Ex- Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s "October 2000 Long Beach Sale" October 5-7, 2000, Lot 7609, not illustrated, sold for $379.50

MS-63.  Ex - Bowers and Merena Galleries, "The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, Part IV Sale", November 20-21, 2000, Lot 541, not illustrated, not sold  Purchased from J.B.H. Metallic Arts, June 6, 1972

PCGS MS-63.  Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc.'s "The California Sale", October 2-3, 2000, Lot 924, sold for $506.00

PCGS MS-63.  Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc.'s "The California Sale", October 2-3, 2000, Lot 925. sold for $374.00

PCGS MS-63.  Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coin & Collectibles' "The Fairchild Family Trust Collection Sale", May 28-30, 2001, Lot 1425, "1/0", illustrated, sold for $3,450.00

NGC MS-63.  Ex - Bowers & Merena Galleries' "The Cabinet of Lucien M. LaRiviere, Part III", May 21, 2001, Lot 235, not illustrated, sold for $431.25

NGC MS-63.  Ex - Bowers & Merena Galleries' "The Lake Geneva Sale", June 28-29, 2001, Lot 1276, not illustrated, sold for $414.00

ANACS MS-62, Deep Mirror Prooflike.  Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc.'s "The California Sale", October 2-3, 2000, Lot 926, sold for $719.00

ANACS MS-61.  Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coin & Collectibles' "The Fairchild Family Trust Collection Sale", May 28-30, 2001, Lot 1426, "Doubled Date, Breen-6714", illustrated, sold for $518.00

MS-60.  Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc.'s "The California Sale", October 2-3, 2000, Lot 927, sold for $161.00

MS-60.  Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coin & Collectibles' "The Fairchild Family Trust Collection Sale", May 28-30, 2001, Lot 1428, not illustrated, sold for $195.00

Choice AU.  Ex - Stack's "The University of Notre Dame Sale", March 20-21, 2001, Lot 1128, not plated, sold for $138.00

Choice AU.  Ex - Stack's "The University of Notre Dame Sale", March 20-21, 2001, Lot 1129, not plated, sold for $138.00

PCGS AU-53.  Ex - Bowers & Merena Galleries' "The Cabinet of Lucien M. LaRiviere, Part II", March 15-17, 2001, Lot 150, "Overdate", sold for $483.00

AU-50 Prooflike.  Ex - Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s "Long Beach Signature Sale", May 31-June 2, 2001, Lot 6029, not illustrated, sold for $161.00

About Uncirculated.  Ex- Stack's "The September Sale", September 12-13, 2000, Lot 1561, sold for $115.00

About Uncirculated.  Ex - Stack's "The University of Notre Dame Sale", March 20-21, 2001, Lot 1130, not plated, sold for $138.00

Extremely Fine.  Ex- Stack's "The September Sale", September 12-13, 2000, Lot 1562, sold for $115.00

Extremely Fine.  Ex- Stack's "The September Sale", September 12-13, 2000, Lot 1563, sold for $126.50

Very Fine.  Ex- Stack's "The September Sale", September 12-13, 2000, Lot 1564, sold for $115.00

Brilliant Uncirculated with claims to Choice.  Ex - Stack's "65th Anniversary Sale", October 17-19, 2000, Lot 1749, not plated, sold for $207.00

Notes:
The finest Uncirculated example graded by PCGS is a single MS-66.

The finest Uncirculated "1881/0" example graded by PCGS is a single MS-64.

The finest Proof example graded by PCGS is a single PR-66.

The finest Cameo Proof examples graded by PCGS are 3 PRCA-65's.

The finest Deep Cameo Proof example graded by PCGS is a single PRDC-66.

Sources and/or recommended reading:
"Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial Coins" by Walter Breen

"The PCGS Population Report, July 2003" by The Professional Coin Grading Service

 

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